Harlow taxi drivers line up to quiz council over large number of issues
Business / Fri 22nd Sep 2023 at 06:40am
A LARGE number of Harlow taxi drivers attended at a meeting of the council on Thursday night and tabled a number of questions.
The questions and answers are below.
The chair of Licensing, Cllr Nick Churchill was not present at the meeting.
Stuart Bolwerk to Councillor Nick Churchill (Chair of the Licensing Committee):
In Harlow councils private hire operator licence conditions it states that:“The Proprietor of a Private Hire business will not use any advertisement in respect of the business, or the vehicles used for private hire work, which include the words ‘taxi’ or ‘cab’ whether in the singular or plural, or words of similar meaning or appearance whether alone or part of another word.”We as the hackney carriage trade have complained on many occasions over many years about the use of the word taxi by one of the private hire operators. They use word TAXI in their advertisements, on their website on their business cards and even on the stickers they place on the side of their cars.
Can the chair please explain why this has not been stopped or can you explain to us why licencing is allowing them to use the word taxi in there advertisements against their licencing condition?
Reply from Councillor Dan Swords (Leader of the Council) on behalf of Nick Churchill (Chair of the Licensing Committee):
This has not been enforced well enough to date and the council is now taking proactive enforcement action for such a breach of the operator licence.
Leonard Wernham to Councillor Nick Churchill (Chair of the Licensing Committee):
What are the Council doing in regard to the Wolverhampton Council licensed private hire vehicles and Uber drivers operating in the town that will uphold the duty of care for every Harlow resident?
Reply from Councillor Dan Swords (Leader of the Council) on behalf of Nick Churchill (Chair of the Licensing Committee):
I absolutely share the concern on these matters which have been raised by the Secretary of State for Transport, TfL (who licence Uber) and Wolverhampton Council. I commit to ensuring the council does everything possible to tackle this issue because at present, both instances are operating within the law, if not within the spirit of it.I have committed to meet with drivers again in October which I will do to update them on progress but I do absolutely share their concerns and will do all I can to tackle it.
Lee Dangerfield to Councillor Nick Churchill (Chair of Licensing Committee):
On the 21/7/2021 the LGA published a document in relation to Taxis and Private hire vehicles.Within this document (The common framework) it states that councils can work together in order be able to check any vehicles from another area, this can only be done with the consent of other councils. Can you tell me if this has ever been visited in Harlow?
Reply from Councillor Dan Swords (Leader of the Council) on behalf of Nick Churchill (Chair of the Licensing Committee):
The council had not previously done this, but given the recent campaigning from drivers, the council will now actively pursue this and I will monitor progress and report back to drivers.
Tony Irish to Councillor Nick Churchill (Chair of Licencing Committee):
In the Local Government Association Councillors Handbook and under the title ‘Council role in taxi and PHV licensing in England and Wales’ it states…
‘Taxi and PHV licensing is undertaken by licensing authorities, which have the responsibility for ensuring the public travel in safe, well-maintained vehicles driven by competent drivers, as well as providing a fair and reasonable service for the taxi and PHV trade’.
How can this licensing authority ensure the public of Harlow travel in safe, well-maintained vehicles driven by competent drivers when it is estimated that there are around 400 mini cabs or Taxis that are licensed elsewhere, from as far away as London and even Wolverhampton, who work permanently in this town, and that are unknown to this licensing authority, out of its control and completely beyond scrutiny or enforcement locally?
Reply from Councillor Dan Swords (Leader of the Council) on behalf of Nick Churchill (Chair of the Licensing Committee):
I absolutely share the concern on these matters which have been raised by the Secretary of State for Transport, TfL (who licence Uber) and Wolverhampton Council. I commit to ensuring the council does everything possible to tackle this issue because at present, both instances are operating within the law, if not within the spirit of it.
I have committed to meet with drivers again in October which I will do to update them on progress but I do absolutely share their concerns and will do all I can to tackle it.
Son of Old Man River
2023-09-22 09:09:57
Did Cllr Swords speak to Cllr Churchill (the Licensing Absentee Landlord) and "absolutely share his concerns on these matters" when Cllr Churchill, in a rare public appearance on 2nd Sept assured local media that: "The Harlow operator also operates in Wolverhampton and is licenced by Wolverhampton for that. There are clear and strict rules about using PH drivers and vehicles from other areas and all of those are being complied with. My licencing team has been making regular inspections of the operators activities in this regard and at no point has there been any breaches of the rules and regulations." Problem, what problem, oh, that one over there!
Alderman Durcan
2023-09-22 17:22:15
If the Tory leadership were serious they would enable the current chair to step away from his role as chair of the committee. If not all we heard last night was hollow political spin. Time to build some trust back and get someone more able to deal with this issue.
Lee
2023-09-22 17:40:39
In relation to the meeting last night drivers want to make it clear that although questions were not read out or supplementarys asked the public should understand these questions were designed for Cllr Churchill. But due to him once again avoiding scrutiny sent his apologies to avoid answering genuine questions. This has just enraged the trade even more and reiterates why he should longer be in his prominent position His poor comments as printed by an online newspaper seem to be his only way of communicating. The trade are fed up with poor comments, poor decisions, poor judgement and poor attendance within council meetings(67%) before last night along with his lack of direction to officers. Along with the fact the licencing department are still working from home( which he accepts or he would have changed). Now as a group we have sent emails to both the leader and CEO of Harlow Council calling for Cllr Churchill to resign his post as the chair of the licencing committee. These issues faced by the trade cannot continue. The problems they face are affecting their livelihoods and income. Its all well and good Cllr Churchill making ridiculous and outrageous untrue statements but he didn't do his homework or get it checked before getting it printed. He has to go.
Lee
2023-09-22 17:57:00
Cllr Durcan thank you for your comments but we are saddened that your leader said in a online news paper article that he would comment at full council. That never happened. Cllr Churchill needs to go…..
Pedro
2023-09-22 20:36:51
What's the point of councillors especially ones that are chair of a particular area of responsibility if they can't attend meetings, that's not what we elect them to do, if your elected and are unable or unwilling to regularly attend then stand down and let someone who is capable, don't the Conservatives have a problem with Mr Le May not attending council also!
Nicholas Taylor
2023-09-22 21:12:11
Those reading this article and the one about the horse riding issue will no doubt see parallels. Lack of action, decisions behind closed doors, lies, cover ups and ignoring facts are all common within Harlow Council whether led by Labour or the Tories. Nothing will change until enough people come out and vote for candidates from other Parties. We hope those in the taxi community take note and come out to vote next May. As for Cllr LeMay, he has only attended one meeting since last December! Nicholas Taylor, Leader of the Harlow Alliance Party.
Lee
2023-09-23 13:52:15
Nicholas Taylor While I appreciate your comments the fact is you as a group does not understand. You comment on everything on this page but you totally don’t get it. If you wish you cast aspersions then keep going but I will send comments to make this legit. You need to make sure you’re comments are correct and you need to check the facts prior to your comments.
Lee
2023-09-23 14:03:49
Amazing that you comment on issues that you have never raised before. You’re no different to the rest. Honestly you need to speak when spoken too. It’s very sad that you continue to comment, have a rest. Your comments are not needed. Campaign like Labour and Tories, stick out a leaflet just before election day
Nicholas Taylor
2023-09-23 15:38:13
Lee, as a small Party HAP do not have the resources to match those of the two main Parties who of course receive funds from central office to enable them to produce leaflet after leaflet come election time. These pages offer us the chance to voice our opinion to a wide audience. My comment was based on facts about the actions or non actions of both Parties in the past which are a common theme within council business. Cllr LeMay's absence should have led to his resignation many months ago. I should point out the issue of the taxi licences was not in itself an issue I was commenting on although I did publicly support Cllr Vince some weeks ago when he suggested that anyone hiring a taxi should ensure that it is licenced in Harlow.. Our members have been raising questions at Cabinet and Full Council meetings for over 4 years now on a whole range of issues, Councillors have shown many times that they are good at dodging giving answers.
Nelly
2023-09-23 19:01:25
I think the very fact that Cllr Churchill refused to attend the full council meeting to answer the questions directed at him says it all. Leader of the council Dan Swords in my opinion should have put the questions to Cllr Churchill and read his responses at the meeting. Cllr Churchill had ducked judgement yet again and needs to resign so the trade can have a fair and responsible chair of the LC
Paul
2023-09-24 00:09:00
Why oh why are all these posts so low in volume? Doesn't anyone know how to record conversations? Even with my volume up full, I find it hard to hear what anyone is saying. Pointless posts in my mind.
Lee
2023-09-24 11:05:41
Nicholas Taylor, The fact remains if you was present at full council and read the questions raised plus answers it tells you that the problem is far bigger than just asking for a a Harlow “Taxi” as Labour put it! I would suggest that all parties look at the problems and issues before commenting.
Nicholas Taylor
2023-09-25 08:12:26
Lee, I am fully aware that this matter can only be resolved by politicians either by changing the law and/or enforcing regulations, but we of course as members of the public can only voice our opinion and the best way of doing that is to make sure we only use Harlow registered taxis.
Michael Dempsey
2023-09-29 00:41:22
Central government need to sort Wolverhampton council out! They are just dishing private hire plates out for money! Flooding a already struggling sector! Pure greed
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